Storm window



E. E. BENSON STORM WINDOW Filed June '7, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 Imm IHI

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E. E. BENSON sToRMwI'NDow Feb. s, 193s.

Filed June '7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @mwah Liri Patented F eb. 8, 1938UNITE-D STATES STORM WINDOW Edward E. Benson, Providence, R. I., signorof one-hal! to Emerson P. Smith, Providence,

Appuauoii June '1, 1934, serial No. 729,395

2 Claims.

Hitherto storm windows have consisted oi!V cumbersome supplementalwindows generally similar to the regular permanent windows detachably'secured by means of screws or otherwise inside or outside, preferablyoutside of the regular windows in winter time. These have been verycumbersome to attach and detach and rather unsightly when attached.

An object of my invention therefore is to provide a exible transparentstorm window, which when not desired for use in the Winter time, may bereadily rolled up out of sight and which if desired may be mounted inthe same housing so as to be alternatively employed with a flexiblewindow screen ln winter or summer respectively.

While I am aware that others have employed iiexible transparent windowsand flexible transparent window shields covering a portion of the windowcasing opening, so far as I- am aware no one has hitherto provided aexible transparent storm window or insulating element adapted to besecured to the main window at a spaced distance therefrom and completelysealed on top, sides and bottom thereof when in closed attached positionso as to form a complete air seal between said closed flexibletransparent window and the main window. By providing this air space Ihave achieved what has been hitherto accomplished in the prior art in abetter manner than the cumbersome present-day types ci storm window.

Slldable screens which may beraised or low- D ered like window shades atwill have been known hitherto, but I preferably so mount my trans-Iparent exible improved window in the same housing as the slidable screenand guide it downwards across the window casing opening in the sameguideway so that in the summer time the screen may be moved intoposition to close the window casing opening or in the winter time myimproved transparent storm window may be selectively moved down the sameguideways to effectually seal "the same casing opening, therebyproviding in asingle mechanism means to form a storm window in winterand means to form a screen in summer.

Further features of my invention relate to the improved specificconstruction of my improved transparent storm Window and the means Ipreferably employ to completely air seal it to provide the desiredinsulating air space in use.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appearwill be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings,which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of inner face of a.permanent window with my improved transparent fiexible storm windowmounted in the window casing thereof inside of and at a spaced distancefrom the permanent win.- dow in lowered position closing the windowcasing opening.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a iront elevation of the upper portion of the window with thehousing broken away and a portion of the storm window broken away toshow the screen behind it.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the roller housinglooking down upon the rollers.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed horizontal sectional view of one of thesealing guideways I preferably employ to air seal the side edges of myimproved iexible storm window..

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional View similar to Fig. 5 in whichthe side edges of the win- 2 dow are provided with more rigid flexiblereenforcing strips.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed horizontal-section similar to Figs. 54and 6 in which the inner surfaces of the guideways are preferably lined30 with felt or other soft material.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout, l0 generally indicates a window casing in which myimproved window may be attached. Said window casing ill usually has thepermanent window l2 permanently ,mounted therein, said window I2preferably comprising the usual upper and lower window sashes l and Itrelatively slidably mounted within, although it is obvious that myinvention may be employed if desired with a solid plate glass window. Inmost windows the' window casing l0 extends a substantial distance i8(Fig. 2) inwards of said permanent window l2.

In the broader aspects of my invention, I preferably employ a flexibletransparent storm window member 20 movably mounted within said casingIll at a spaced distance inside of said permanent window i2, wherebysaid storm window 2li may be movedA to a position substantially free ofsaid window casing opening, or to a position closing said opening toform an air insulating space 22 between said permanent window i2 andstorm window 20. In order to provide said air insulating space 22, Ipreferably said storm window when in closed position to insure :theformation of said air sealing space 22|and also air seal the means tosecure said storm window in closed position.

While my improved movable flexible transparent storm window 20 may bemovably mountcd within said casing I6 in any suitable manner, Ipreferably suitably mounted a roller 24 within the upper end 26 of saidcasing at a spaced distance inside of said permanent Window I2 andsecure one end of said flexible transparent storm window 20 to saidroller,l whereby on rotation of said roller in one direction saidflexible storm window may be coiled on said roller substantially freefrom said window casingopening and on rotation of said roller in theopposite direction, said flexible storm window may be uncoiled to aposition closing said opening to form th'e air insulating space 22between said permanent window I2 and storm window 20.

In order that there may be a 'complete air seal at the top4 of myimproved flexible transparent storm window when in closed position Ipreferably mount the roller 24 within a housing 28 mounted in the upperend 26 of said casing to form an air seal for the upper end of saidcasing inside of said permanent window I2. I provide aligned air sealingguideway means 30 on each side wall 32 of said casing below said housingand spaced from said permanent window. Suitable bar means 34 are mountedon the lower end of said transparent flexible window member 20 and anair seal comprising a flexible rubber strip 36 preferably projectsdownwardly from said bar means to form an air seal at the lower end ofsaid casing. v Suitable means are provided to secure said bar means 34to the lower end of said casing, which in the preferred embodiment shownpreferably comprise slidable rods 38 mounted within said hollow barmeans 34 having the handles 40 projecting inwardly from the slots 42 insaid bar means, whereby the outer ends 44 of said bar means 38 may slideinto suitable depressions 46 in said guideway means 30 to lock myimproved transparent storm window in lowered position closing the windowopening.

While my improved flexible transparent storm window may be formed fromany suitable flexible transparent material, it is preferably constructedof sheet Celluloid, preferably covered with an outer coating ofcellulose or cellulose nitrate or acetate or otherwise to form amaterial commonly sold under the name of Cellophane. It may be formed ofpure flexible Celluloid, or cellulose nitrate or acetate, or othersuitable derivatives of cellulose, or if desired may be constructed ofany suitable type of a synthetic resin or other suitable transparentflexible material.

In my preferred embodiments the guide ways 30 are preferably constructedas follows: Pairs of spaced rigid preferably metallic strips 48 areprovided with the bases 50 which may be secured vertically at intervalsto each side wall of said casing by means of the screws 52. Said strips48 are provided with the projecting portions 54 each having an inturnedouter end 56 spaced a slight distance from its respective pair end toform the guideway 30 on each side Wall of said window casing spacedinwardly of said permanent window, as shown in Fig. 5. If desired,however, as shown in Fig. 6 each side'edge of the flexible transparentstorm window may be provided with the flexible preferably metallicreenforcing strips 58 secured around each outer edge thereof to providemeans to air seal all sides and ends of"A -form protective means toprotect each side edge 60 of said transparent storm window in sliding upand down within the guideway 30 and to assist in forming with saidresilient guideway an air seal for the side edges of my improvedflexible transparent storm window. As shown in.

Fig. 7 if desired, the inside edges of said guideways 30 may beadditionally lined with a resilient substance, such as the felt 62 showntherein so as not to fray the side edges 66 of my improved flexibletransparent storm window 20.

In my preferred embodiment the roller housin.;r 28 is preferably mountedon the upper ends of said strips such as by the integral inturned upperends 64 thereof (Fig. 2), one end 64 near the upper end thereof beingspaced a greater distance from the other strip end 64 soas to providethe supplemental casing 66 below the enlarged slot 68 substantiallycentrally of said housing member 28 for a purpose to be later described.In my preferred embodiment4 the roller 24 is suitably mountedlongitudinally of said housing 28 preferably as in my preferredembodiment shown so that the outer end of the coil or roll 'I0 of myimproved transparent storm window may depend immediately above the slot68 and guideways 38 so that on a downward pull on the bar means 34 onthe lower end of said window 20, the outer edges thereof may be drawndirectly down said guideways 3U.

I preferably also provide air seal means abutting each side of saidflexible storm window within said housing, in my preferred embodimentcomprising a stationary front roll 12 mounted longitudinally of saidhousing and a rear strip 'I4 mounted longitudinally of said housing eachadapted to continuously abut and air seal respectively each side of saidflexible window 20 '4 within said housing 28.

In my preferred embodiment I also preferably mount a second roller 18within said housing 28 preferably in front of said first roller 24 and Isuitably form a roll or coil 80 thereon of flexible screening material82 for use in the summer time. The lower end of said screening material82 is preferably provided with the similar bar means 34 preferably alsoprovided with the slidable rod means 38 for detachably locking the lowerend of said screening 82 within said holes 46 in said guideways 30. Asshown I have mounted the roller I8 so that the depending end ofthescreening 82 and its attached bar means 34 will depend inthesupplemental housing 66 hitherto described when not in use. It is thusapparent when in the winter time it is desired to use my improvedflexible transparent storm window it is merely necessary to reach to theupper end of said casing 66 to draw the suitable bar means 34 of saidflexible transparent storm window down- `wards to completely cut off theair space 22 between said storm window 20 and permanent window I2, thetransparent storm windowV 26 readily permitting ingress of sunshine andlight to the room If in the summer time it is desired, however, to usethe roll screening 82 the bar 34 of the storm window is raised toposition within said supplemental housing 66 and the bar 34 of the rollscreen 82 may be readily grasped and moved downwards in the sameguideways 30 so that the lower bar 34' thereof may be locked in a mannerhitherto explained within the holes 46 in the lower ends of saidguideways 30. It is thus apparspace in the window, or to providescreening means in summer covering the whole window i! it should bedesired to remove the whole window altogether or to -selectively openthe upper or `lowerwindow sash. It desired. however, it is itis merelynecessary to reach up and withdraw the bar means 34 down the guideways3h and lock it in a manner hitherto explained and when the storm windowis no longer desired it may be readily raised in the usual manner bymeans of the spring actuated roller 24 to a position opening the windowcasing and similarly in a manner hitherto explained in the summertimemay the screening 82 be selectively lowered to a position closing withscreening the window easement opening and similarly raised.

It is apparent therefore that I have provided a,y

novel type-of flexible transparent window conconspiouous manner.constructed ota small number o! simple parte and which may be mountedalternatively in the housing` also including a window screening forsummer use operable in the same guideways by the slight enlargement ofthe housing and the addition oi' the supplemental roller and thescreening.

lIl: is understood that my invention is not llm ited to the speciilcembodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefromwith: out departing from the spirit and appended claims. l

What I claim is:

l. Ina building construction, a window casing, a window permanentlymounted within said casing, a roller housing mounted in the upper endoi' said casing inside of said permanent window toformanairsealtortheupperendoisaidcaslng.

scopeofthe.

aligned air4 sealing guideway means mounted on each side wall of saidcasing below said housing spaced from said permanent window, rollersmounted in said housing, a flexible window screen member mounted on oneoi' said rollers, a flexible transparent storni.A window member mountedon the other roller, bar means mounted on the lower ends oi' saidilexible members, air seal means proiecting downwardly from saidflexible windowmember bar means, air seal means abutting each -side ofsaid 'ilexible storm window within said housing, and meansl to secureeach of said bar means to the lower end of said casing, said rollersbeing so spaced within said housing that said exible members may beselectively lowered from said housing and the bar means thereof securedto the lower end of said casing, with said ilexible storm window memberbeing air sealed within said casing at a spaced distance from saidpermanent window to form an insulating air space therebetween.

2. In a building construction, a window casing,

a window permanently( mounted within-said cas- V 11D8.' a pair of spacedrigid resilient strips vertically mounted on each side wall of saidcasing,

each having an inturned outer end spaced a.

slight distance from its respective pair end to form guideways on eachside wall of said window v casing spaced inwardly oisaid-permanentwindow, resilient air sealing means mounted on each sideof said guideways. a roller housing mounted against the upper end oi'said casing to form an air seal for the upper end ot said casing. aroller mounted on said housing, a exible transparent storm window membermounted on said roller and n exible vmeans mounted within said housingadapted to continuously abut and air seal each sideloi said flexiblewindow, whereby said flexible member may be lowered from said housingand secured to the lower end oi' said casing', with said iiexible stormwindow member being air sealed within said casing at'a spaced distancefrom said permanent window to form an insulating air

